Life

Bell Three-peats, Stewart Dominates Lake Stevens

Australian Luke Bell does not often return to the same Ironman 70.3 races, preferring to mix up the venues he competes at. However, he cannot be blamed for having a soft spot for Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens, having two wins and a third place finish at his previous outings.

The mens race started with New Zealand’s Graham O’Grady leading out of the water and up the public boat launch. Nipping at O’Grady’s heels was USA’S Gavin Anderson with a chase pack of three containing Australian Paul Ambrose, Canadian Tom Evans and Bell about 30 seconds behind.

Ambrose took control on the bike, riding away from the completion in the early going, with Bell content to mark the move and let the race be settled on the run. Behind the lead duo Canadian Jeff Symonds mounted a charge towards the front, coming off the bike in third, 1:46 behind the leaders as they entered the transition.

Out on the run Bell quickly established the lead and methodically pulled away from Ambrose through the duration of the run. Bell looked fluid and confident as he ran his way to his third win and his 17th Ironman 70.3 career title.

Professional men’s results

1

Bell, Luke

3:56:50

2

Ambrose, Paul

3:57:53

3

Symonds, Jeff

3:58:29

4

O'Grady, Graham

4:00:33

5

Kilshaw, Stephen

4:02:29

6

Duff, James

4:10:14

7

Anderson, Gavin

4:10:20

8

Thompson, Nicholas

4:12:08

9

Shortis, Jason

4:13:32

10

Ganter, Chris

4:17:48

The women’s race – Stewart’s bike clinic

American Jennifer Luebke and 2010 Lakes Stevens champion, Canada’s Melanie McQuaid, managed to establish a 30-second gap on Canada’s Christine Fletcher and American McKenzie Madison by the end of the single-loop 1.2-mile swim. Exiting the water 1:37 back of the leaders was American Tyler Stewart.

Stewart, the 2009 Ironman Coeur d’Alene champion, put on a cycling clinic today, outpacing her closest rivals on the bike by over eight minutes. As Stewart hit the run course, it was apparent from the beginning that no one could match her pace and, with little drama, she cruised her way to win Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens by more than ten minutes over the three-time Xterra world champion McQuaid.